Petroleum engineers figure out ways to find oil and gas.
There is a race to find new sources of natural gas and petroleum. According to College Board, a non-profit that connects students with educational opportunities, the United States acquires 63 percent of energy from these sources. A petroleum engineer finds these sources, figures out ways to retrieve them from the earth and processes them.
Roles
According to the Occupational Information Network, petroleum engineers figure out ways to improve the production of oil and gas wells through research and design. These engineers search for new sources of petroleum and natural gas. Petroleum engineers decide whether new or enhanced tool designs are necessary in removing oil or gas from the earth. Petroleum engineers may also oversee drilling. These workers offer technical advice with the objective of achieving satisfactory and economical results.
Working Conditions
Petroleum engineers work indoors and outdoors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, petroleum engineers can be found within offices, laboratories or plants. Petroleum engineers can also be found outdoors at sites for oil or gas production and exploration. Some may travel domestically or internationally to visit work sites. Most engineers work the typical 40-hour work week. During deadline crunches, engineers may work overtime.
Education and Training
Petroleum engineers require a minimum of a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering or a related degree. According to the Princeton Review, petroleum engineers may also hold an undergraduate degree in an engineering or earth science, such as geology, geophysics, mining or tectonics. The majority in this field continues into graduate school. For petroleum engineers who wish to instruct and research at a university, a Ph.D. is necessary.
Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, petroleum engineers earned a national mean hourly wage of $57.67 and a national mean annual wage of $119,960 in May 2009. The industries that employed the highest number of petroleum engineers included the oil and gas extraction industry with a mean annual wage of $126,090; support activities for mining, $102,190; architectural, engineering and related services, $120,980; petroleum and coal products manufacturing, $123,690; and management of companies and enterprises, $125,470.
Job Outlook
According to the National Employment Matrix from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for petroleum engineers is expected to increase at a rate of 18 percent through 2018. The reason for the increase is due to the need to develop new petroleum resources, as well as figuring out new ways to extract oil from existing sources. Job prospects are projected to be excellent due to the small number of graduates to fill the larger number of job openings. Because oil companies are multinational, the best employment opportunities may be in other countries.
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